While Zaccariello has seemingly taken steps toward possibly achieving his dream of the Olympic trials, Ms. Bivona has had an amazing season just one year removed from having been struck by a taxicab while on a training run.

In both cases, the best may still be yet to come.

“Everything they’ve achieved has come through hard work and is well-deserved,” said Wagner coach Joseph Stasi of his talented sophomores.

Ms. Bivona is a graduate of St. John Villa High School, where she was a three-time Advance All Star in cross country and a two-time honoree in track and field.

The Great Kills resident earned several All-American honors along the way, and the distance star has made an indelible mark on the Seahawks’ record book this season.

Dan Zaccariello

She has broken the school record for the mile with a time of 4-minutes, 58.10 seconds, and recently, at the Armory Challenge, she broke another school mark in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:54.92. She also is a member of the school’s record-setting 4x1600 and distance-medley relay teams.

Both of her individual times qualify her for this weekend’s Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Intercollegiate Association of Amatuer Athletes of America (IC4A) Championships.

“Alexis has a bright future, this is the start of something big,” said Stasi.

When you consider what happened last February, it’s all the more amazing what she has been able to accomplish.

On February 8, 2011, Ms. Bivona was hit by a taxi while on a run along Howard Avenue near Greta Place. The cab’s back tire ran over her ankle and, when she fell, her elbow suffered blunt trauma. Despite it all, she remained calm and was quickly rushed to the hospital.

Initially, the doctor informed her that her ankle was fractured, causing her to “break down into tears,” knowing that, not only would she not be able to run, but she would not be able to compete in the Northeast Conference (NEC) meet three days later.”

After seeking a second opinion, Ms. Bivona’s injuries were determined to be bad ligament damage. Though she was told to stay off her ankle for a month, she refused to be grounded. “I knewI would do everything in my power to return to running and get back in shape, as soon as possible,” Ms. Bivona said.

Just five days after the accident, she hit the gym on her crutches and started biking.

“Alexis is probably the toughest runner I have, and I don’t mean in workouts and races,” Stasi said. “Mentally she is so focused and determined.”

Three weeks after the accident, Ms. Bivona competed in her first outdoor meet.

“The accident took away one of the most important things in my life,” Ms. Bivona said. “In doing so, it made me stronger and more determined to get back on my feet.”

Ms. Bivona’s goals for the upcoming outdoor season include running sub 4:40 for the 1,500-meter run and 10:15 in the 3,000 meters. Ms. Bivona, who aspires to be a nurse, feels “running is part of my life. I’m definitely not going to give it up after I graduate. It’s defined who I am.”

Zaccariello, a St. Joseph by-the-Sea graduate, where he was a three-time Advance All Star in cross country and a two-time selection in track and field, has also enjoyed a record-breaking season.

The Huguenot resident was named one of the best runners in New York by ESPN Rise Magazine during his senior year at Sea and hasn’t disappointed on Grymes Hill.

“Dan is the most talented runner I’ve brought to Wagner,” said Stasi.

Zaccariello runs the 800 meters and the mile for Wagner and has had a very solid season. At the Metropolitan Championships, Zaccariello turned in a sparkling 4:08.80 in the mile, which qualified him for the IC4As for the second consecutive year. That time is believed to be the fastest mile recorded by an Island runner since Tottenville HS grad Kevin Jermyn, turned in a 4:05.93 running for Georgetown University on Feb. 7, 1998 at George Mason University.

In Armory Challenge, he broke the school 800 meters record with a time of 1:52.78. This year alone, Zaccariello has broken three school records, his third in the 1,000 meters in 2:29.17.

“It’s been a successful season,” Zaccariello said. “I’m happy about my performances and the teams. I have trained with a lot of people who have helped make me be what I am today.”

What he is is a Wagner record holder.

Zaccariello currently holds four school marks — 800 and 1,000 meters, the mile, and the distance medley. For his approaching outdoor season, Zaccariello is aiming to clock a 1:50 in the 800 meters and hopes to continue “to show up to the meets and perform the best I can, because the time doesn’t come unless you put your best effort out there.”

After college, Zaccariello has plans to join a track club and has his sights set on qualifying for the 2016 Olympic trials.

“Dan hasn’t even touched the surface of what he can do,” Stasi said. “I expect great things for him and I will be along for the ride. It’s going to be fun to watch.”